Features
Focus on Israeli immigrants to Winnipeg: Reimaging manufacturing & supply chains in a post-Covid economy
By JON VAN DER VEEN
To further understand the economic effects of the novel coronavirus and the shutdown, The Jewish Post & News has reached out to several business owners in the community to get their stories. One of those who responded to our invitation to tell us how the pandemic has affected his business is Benjamin Isakov, the CEO and business coach at Congruent Clarity.
Congruent Clarity is a business consultancy firm which provides its clients with professional training and assistance in managing their small to medium sized company and supports the development of strategies to streamline production, reduce waste, emphasize efficiency, and grow. Benjamin Isakov, an Israeli immigrant, has decades of experience working with supply management chains and quality assurance, helping to plan, maintain and source the proper materials for companies engaged in heavy industry, such as Brunswick Steel and Versatile Inc. Now, Benjamin is passing on his knowledge to his many clients at Congruent Clarity through one-on-one, group, and online executive coaching.
I asked Isakov what he perceived to be the most significant issues currently facing businesses as a result of the pandemic-induced shutdown? I noted that many small businesses are now experiencing severe cash flow problems
Isakov responded: “Cash flow is indeed a big problem right now and there is no way around it if you want to keep your old business model working.”
He continued with a real-life situation: “So, I have two clients, and what we did with them to start was to list their skills and capacity that they have in their business in a brainstorm session and see how they could apply the capacity they have into a new reality. For example, some brewers and brewhouses started to produce hand sanitizer solutions. It’s about using the capacity that you already have to produce something that is in high demand in the market.”
Isakov explainined that, in this current economic climate, companies need to adjust their manufacturing base to shift production from luxury goods and non-essential amenities into more utilitarian products which are in higher demand. To further demonstrate this concept, he provided me with an example of one such transition: a local print metal shop started to produce small metal brackets that attach to the bottom of doors, enabling them to be opened by a foot –an inventive measure to help avoid the spread of the novel Coronavirus.
The objective for many local businesses should no longer be maximizing output, but instead, maximizing the efficiency and flexibility of their production. Moreover, as large multi-national corporations have increasingly globalized, they have been able to manufacture their products at cheaper rates and in greater quantities by utilizing long supply chains. These networks begin with mineral resource extraction in Africa where labour costs and standards are low; then, the manufacturing happens in East-Asia where the population has high skill levels but still retains cheap production costs; finally, the goods ship to Western countries, such as the United States and Canada, where generations of great prosperity have created consumption-driven economies.
As a result, in the last couple of decades, it has become futile for small—medium sized businesses to compete in large-scale manufacturing, especially since these huge multi-national conglomerates can afford to operate at a much lower cost and push the ‘little guy’ out. However, these long supply chains also come with several downsides which have been both exposed and exacerbated by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Although bisecting the manufacturing industry with the consumer base has lowered costs for the consumer and increased corporate profits, this process makes global supply chains more vulnerable because there is an increased number of contact points along the chain for interference and failure. For example, when Covid-19 forced many manufactories in China to close, there were cascading effects for suppliers – who were no longer able to source products.
As a result, Isakov favours repatriating some of our manufacturing base. He said, “We need to keep local economies healthy by keeping at least a percentage of production in the country so that in cases like today we have the capacity to ramp up production. So, I would say –if I was in a leadership position– that we need to keep at least fifty percent of quantity for any type of production within the country.”
He gave a very pertinent example: “So, with safety masks – if you don’t have production at home you have nothing to ramp up. If you have such a machine working at thirty percent capacity making 100,000 masks every eight hours you can increase that to meet demand. But if you don’t have the capacity, you are at the mercy of other countries and have to rely upon them.”
Indeed, across Canada, the United States and the European Union, there were widespread shortages of surgical masks at the onset of the pandemic. Moreover, when Canada eventually imported Chinese masks, the Globe and Mail reported that “about one million of the face masks it has purchased from China have failed to meet proper standards for health care professionals and will not be distributed to provinces or cities.”
Although I recognize the downsides of globalized supply chains and shared many of Benjamin’s concerns, I pressed him to explain how Canada could actualize the repatriation of strategic industries?
Benjamin responded: “We can subsidize some of this industry in the country or make tariffs to make outside products more expensive … Businessmen will not do something just because; they need to have an incentive.”
He continued to explain that there are many benefits if you shop locally at small stores, and although this is more expensive, the government can create the conditions to source locally. A healthy local economy will help create more jobs and wealth; Benjamin stated that if you buy from a small retailer, approximately 68 cents recirculate in the community, whereas if you buy from a big domestic retailer, only 43 cents stay.
I suggested to Isakov that consumers must accept short-term increasse in price for the sake of long-term growth.
Benjamin concurred and gave me an uneasy prediction that without more drastic government intervention the fallout of the pandemic will send shockwaves throughout the Canadian economy for the next six-ten months, especially in sectors such as heavy industry, retail, and real estate. Moreover, Canadians are sleepwalking into a more significant crisis if we do not address the fundamental economic issues. There are points of no return, and for many companies that is fast approaching. Small businesses are already operating on slim profit margins, so the government’s response to the crisis by providing relatively low-interest loans is both inadequate, and a short-term fix.
Features
New Opportunities for XRP in the Trump Era: How XRP Holders Can Earn $7,899 Daily in Passive Income Through FTMINING Cloud Mining in 2026
If you’ve always believed that XRP can only be held long-term and wait for its value to appreciate, then FTMINING cloud mining might bring a completely new way to utilize this asset. Today, there is no need to purchase expensive mining machines or master complex mining techniques. You can quickly participate in digital asset mining through cloud computing platforms, giving idle XRP more application value. FTMINING’s cloud mining service, with its convenient operation process, 24/7 computing power service and flexible product solutions, has attracted the attention of many digital asset users, providing a new option for XRP holders who want to obtain continuous mining rewards. The launched cloud computing service supports the participation of various mainstream digital assets such as XRP, helping users to access the digital asset ecosystem in a more convenient way. Users can generate a passive income of up to $7,899 per day.
From holding assets to participating in cloud mining
Traditional mining often requires a significant investment in specialized mining equipment, along with costs for electricity, site access, and maintenance. For ordinary investors, this model presents a high technical and financial barrier to entry. FTMINING adopts a cloud computing power model, which centralizes the operation of mining farms, equipment management, computing power allocation and maintenance, etc., and allows users to choose different cloud computing power products according to their own needs and complete the participation process online, reducing the complexity of operation while still being able to participate.
Features of FTMINING:
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FTMINING: Safe, Transparent, and Trustworthy Investment
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At the technical level, the platform adopts multiple security mechanisms, including bank-level firewalls, cloud security certification, multi-signature cold wallets and asset isolation systems, to provide multi-layer protection for user funds.
Its security infrastructure includes:
●Platform operations comply with the European MiCA and MiFID II regulatory frameworks
● Annual financial and security audit conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
● Digital asset custody insurance provided by Lloyd’s of London
How to participate in FTMINING
Step 1: Register an Account
Visit the official FT MINING website: https://ftmining.com
Create an account by entering your email address and password. Receive a $15 sign-up bonus and a $0.75 daily login bonus.
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Premium Contract: $25,000 — 30-day term — Total profit approx. $39,250
(Please visit the official website for more contract details.)
Contracts take effect immediately upon purchase, with earnings settled daily.
Real User Feedback
Michael, an XRP holder from Texas, USA:
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Thomas, an XRP investor from New York:
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Industry Perspectives
Industry observers point out that the attention FTMINING cloud mining model has garnered reflects investors’ growing demand for “stable returns” and “automated asset management.” With the continuous improvement of compliance, security and automation technologies, the FTMINING cloud mining model provides cryptocurrency holders with a new asset management approach and makes “passive income” a realistic and feasible goal.
Conclusion
XRP holders are entering a new phase of digital asset application, moving from simply holding assets to participating in the blockchain ecosystem. FTMINING cloud mining provides users with a more convenient path to explore value. With the help of cloud computing power, users can participate in mining services without purchasing professional mining machines or undertaking complex operation and maintenance processes, allowing idle XRP to play a greater role. With the continuous development of blockchain technology, cloud mining is becoming an increasingly important focus for digital asset users, enabling XRP holders to manage their assets more flexibly and efficiently, and helping them explore new opportunities in the digital economy era.
If you wish to explore more revenue opportunities while holding XRP, the FTMINING cloud mining model is worth further understanding and attention.
Official Website: https://ftmining.com
app: https://ftmining.com
Customer Support Email: info@ftmining.com
Features
Musings from Dizengoff Street – by Bruce Brown
(August 8, 2026)
Outside Basimta Café in Central Jerusalem. Love the red shirt against a tiny sea of black. Not sure I am shrugging because of the ultra-orthodox uproar over a Jerusalem café operating on Shabbat or the lack of an ultra-orthodox uproar over a Jerusalem café operating on Shabbat. For the last six weeks Israeli headlines shouted about the cafe chaos. With the ultra-religious blocking entrances and storming the café. While shouting ‘Shabbos! Shabbos!’ Upsetting the secular amongst us just wanting to enjoy our Saturday iced matchas. So the wife and I thought we would check it out. And. Yes. Buy something to support the business. Uproar. Not. Blocked entrances. Not. Storming the café. Not. Albeit there were police barriers separating the devout protesters from the coffee drinkers. The protesters being just a few dozen black clad, pious Jews. Mostly teenagers. And yes. Shouting ‘Shabbos! Shabbos!’ Certainly underwhelming in its reported mayhem. Reminds me of the famous saying misattributed to Mark Twain – “If you don’t read the newspaper, you’re uninformed. If you do, you’re misinformed.” But I did enjoy my iced matcha.
(August 6, 2026)
Here we go again. Another round of forever negotiations. As someone who negotiates for a living. The way things are going in the straits. If I had to recommend a book on the subject to a new hire. Between The Art of the Deal, A Presidential Edition by Donald J. Trump or The Real Art of the Deal by the Mullahs of Iran with a special forward by the IRGC. Well. I would choose the latter.
(August 3)
Bravo Yoav Segalovitz, Liberal Yesh Atid MK and Monsour Abbas, United Arab Ra’am MK and party head. For breaking a glass ceiling where a Jewish lawmaker joins an Arab political party. No less a political earthquake in my little shtetl. Which can significantly impact coalition block arithmetic and posturing and strategy in the upcoming elections. Now Ra’am can be considered a legitimate ‘Zionist’ partner when forming coalition blocks and potentially pushing the ‘center left/right’ party over the 60 seat majority threshold. In our crazy parliamentary democracy defined by a multi-party (about fourteen!!), proportional representation system. To paraphrase Winston Churchill, Israel’s proportional representation model of governance is the best parliamentary democracy system except for all other forms of working democracies. Stay tuned for more amateurish political musings as we move towards Israel’s 26th national election – five of them held since 2019.
(August 1)
Although both sides say they are open to diplomacy. Neither really trusts the other. And American military action, or its threat, continues. I read headlines in the middle of the night -it’s a nervous habit lately– that the Dynamic Duo of Trump and Netanyahu may again strike in unison. Possibly this weekend. Yikes! Prompting me, at 2:30 AM, to dash around the house stocking my safe room. Bottled water. Canned food. Medicines. Documents. The beat goes on….
If it’s crazy here. It’s insane in Italy. With a recent online ‘Jew Hunt’ in the Milan area. Before being removed, the digital forms urged reportings of Israelis and Italian Jews staying in local hotels. The infamous Global Sumud Movement -yes, the one coordinating ‘peace and humanitarian’ flotillas to Gaza- was somehow connected. Although they deny involvement?! This deranged decree was looking to identify Zionist tourism and Zionist neo-colonization in Italy. I’ll stick with stocking the saferoom.
Then there’s New York Mayor Mamdani, a Global Sumud Movement supporter, threatening to arrest Prime Minister Netanyahu if he comes to New York. But since discovered he has no legal right for such a grandstanding, antisemitic, anti-Israel, anti-Western, anti-democratic antic. Maybe Mandami should be arrested! Or at least impeached. For being a grandstanding, antisemitic, anti-Israel, anti-Western, anti-democratic mayor.
Here’s a post Bruce sent us Friday, July 31:
WARTIME MUSINGS
Should credible threats against FLOTUS and ‘FSOTUS’ (first son..) not be justification to attack first.
As for yesterday’s summit. Netanyahu really can’t win. Explainer. If Trump now attacks without victory its ’cause of Netanyahu. If Trump now attacks with victory its ’cause of Trump. And, in Israel, if Trump doesn’t attack -victory or not- Netanyahu failed in his eighth meeting with Trump. And if Trump does attack -victory or not- half the country will vilify Bibi anyway. Missing a permutation?
Ya. I know. Kinda’ need a definition of victory for that musing to work.
And here in my little shtetle. We go to sleep unsure if there will be a code red in the middle of the night. And if not. We wake up thinking it will be tonight. How do you define stress?
Seemed like an appropriate way to end this musing.
Bruce Brown is a former Winnipegger who made aliyah to Israel over 35 years ago. Bruce first began writing for us – in his own inimitable style, in 2012, during what was known as “Operation Pillar of Defense.” His occasional musings on aspects of life in Israel that were far from what you’d typically read in other reports from Israel were hugely popular – both in the print Jewish Post & News and on this website.
We’re now glad to report that Bruce is back writing for us – this time on a regular basis. We will post Bruce’s reports as they arrive – with the date of each post at the beginning of that post.
Here’s some information about Bruce – and awards he’s received for his writing:
Bruce Brown. Canadian born. Now living in Israel (for a long time). Bruce works in Israel’s hi-tech sector by day and, in spurts, is a somewhat inspired writer by night. He received the American Jewish Press Association’s award for writing excellence in 2019 and 2025. And wrote the 1998 satire, “An Israeli is….” Bruce’s musings are political, social, economic and personal. With lots of biting, contrarian, sardonic and irreverent insight.
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